Robin Williams was one of the most prolific actors of his generation. He was known for his wide range of roles, from comedic to dramatic, and for his improvisational skills.
Williams began his career as a stand-up comedian, before moving into television and film. His breakout role was on the sitcom Mork & Mindy, where he played the alien Mork. He went on to star in a number of successful films, including Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Awakenings, and Mrs. Doubtfire.
Williams was also known for his charity work and was active in a number of causes.
Williams died in 2014, at the age of 63.
Table of Contents:
1. Early Life
2. Career
3. Filmography
4. Television Work
5. Stand-Up Comedy
6. Charity Work
7. Personal Life
8. Death
9. Robin Williams Quotes
1. Early Life
Robin Williams was born on July 21, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois. His father, Robert, was a senior executive at Ford Motor Company, and his mother, Laurie, was a former model.
Williams has two older brothers, Leonard and Robert Jr.
He was raised in the suburbs of Detroit and attended Redford High School.
After high school, Williams attended Claremont McKenna College but dropped out after one year. He then transferred to Juilliard, where he studied drama.
2. Career
Williams began his career as a stand-up comedian, performing in clubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
In 1978, he was cast as the alien Mork in the sitcom Mork & Mindy. The show was a hit, and made Williams a household name.
After Mork & Mindy ended, Williams starred in a number of successful films, including Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Awakenings, and Mrs. Doubtfire. He also won an Academy Award for his performance in Good Will Hunting.
In addition to his work in film, Williams also appeared on Broadway, in the play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo.
3. Filmography
Some of Williams’ most notable film roles include:
-Mork in Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)
-Radio DJ Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
-English teacher John Keating in Dead Poet’s Society (1989)
-Dr. Malcolm Sayer in Awakenings (1990)
-Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
-Genie in Aladdin (1992)
-The President in Dave (1993)
-Dr. Know in The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
-Chris Nielsen in What Dreams May Come (1998)
4. Television Work
In addition to his role on Mork & Mindy, Williams also appeared on a number of other television shows, including:
-The Love Boat (1979)
-Fantasy Island (1979)
-Saturday Night Live (1979-1980)
-St. Elsewhere (1982-1983)
-Private School (1983)
5. Stand-Up Comedy
Williams was also a successful stand-up comedian, and was known for his improvisational skills.
He released a number of comedy albums, including:
-Reality… What a Concept (1979)
-A Night at the Met (1986)
-Live on Broadway (2002)
6. Charity Work
Williams was active in a number of charities, including the Comic Relief fund-raising effort, and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
7. Personal Life
Williams was married three times. His first marriage was to Valerie Velardi, with whom he had one son, Zachary. His second marriage was to Marsha Garces, with whom he had two children, Zelda and Cody. His third marriage was to Susan Schneider, with whom he had one child, Oscar.
Williams struggled with addiction throughout his life, and was open about his battles with alcohol and drugs.
8. Death
On August 11, 2014, Williams was found dead in his home in Tiburon, California. He was 63 years old.
The cause of death was later determined to be suicide by asphyxiation.
Robin Williams Quotes
“Do you think God gets stoned? I think so…look at the platypus.” – Robin Williams
“I don’t do well with snakes and I can’t dance.” – Robin Williams
“You have this idea that you’d better keep working otherwise people will forget. And that was dangerous. And then you realize, no, actually if you take a break people might be more interested in you.” – Robin Williams
“On stage you’re free. You can say and do things that if you said and did any place else, you’d be arrested.” – Robin Williams
“When you have a great audience, you can just keep going and finding new things.” – Robin Williams
“The only weapon we have is the comedy.” – Robin Williams
“I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy. Because they know what it feels like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anybody else to feel like that.” – Robin Williams
“For a while you get mad, then you get over it.” – Robin Williams
“You know the difference between a tornado and divorce in the South? Nothing! Someone’s losing a trailer, number one.” – Robin Williams
“In America, they really do mythologize people when they die.” – Robin Williams
“You don’t know about real loss because it only occurs when you’ve loved something more than you love yourself.” – Robin Williams
“Sometimes you got to specifically go out of your way to get into trouble. It’s called fun.” – Robin Williams
“You will have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren’t paying attention to.” – Robin Williams
“A human life is just a heartbeat in heaven.” – Robin Williams
“I try to make sense of things. Which is why, I guess, I believe in destiny. There must be a reason that I am as I am. There must be.” – Robin Williams
“Our job is improving the quality of life, not just delaying death.” – Robin Williams
“Self-reliance is the key to a vigorous life. A man must look inward to find his own answers.” – Robin Williams
“I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.” – Robin Williams
“I do believe in love; it’s wonderful—especially love the third time around, it’s even more precious; it’s kind of amazing.” – Robin Williams
“If heaven exists, to know that there are laughs, that would be a great thing.” – Robin Williams
“Sometimes, over things that I did, movies that didn’t turn out very well–you go, ‘Why did you do that?’ But in the end, I can’t regret them because I met amazing people. There was always something that was worth it.” – Robin Williams
“There are three things in this world that you need: Respect for all kinds of life, a nice bowel movement on a regular basis, and a navy blazer.” – Robin Williams
“There is still a lot to learn and there is always great stuff out there. Even mistakes can be wonderful.” – Robin Williams
“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” – Robin Williams
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” – Robin Williams
“The things we fear the most have already happened to us.” – Robin Williams
“I’m a very tolerant man, except when it comes to holding a grudge.” – Robin Williams
“Divorce is expensive. I used to joke they were going to call it ‘all the money but they changed it to alimony.” – Robin Williams
“There’s a world out there. Open a window, and it’s there.” – Robin Williams
“Death–to blink for an exceptionally long period of time.” – Robin Williams
“Most of all, I want to thank my father, up there, the man who when I said I wanted to be an actor, he said, ‘Wonderful. Just have a backup profession like welding.'”
“It’s hard when you read an article saying bad things about you. It is as if someone is sticking a knife in your heart. But I am the harshest critic of my work.” – Robin Williams
“Don’t associate yourself with toxic people. It’s better to be alone and love yourself than surrounded by people that make you hate yourself.” – Robin Williams
“You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe; harmonic connection between all living beings, everywhere even the stars.” – Robin Williams
“Good people end up in Hell because they can’t forgive themselves.” – Robin Williams
“I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people that make you feel all alone.” – Robin Williams
“There are no rules. Just follow your heart.” – Robin Williams
“Comedy is acting out optimism.” – Robin Williams
“If it’s the Psychic Network why do they need a phone number?”
“Stop being afraid of getting older. With age comes wisdom and confidence.” – Robin Williams
“Imagining something is better than remembering something.” – Robin Williams
“Seize the day. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing.” – Robin Williams
“Never pick a fight with an ugly person, they’ve got nothing to lose.” – Robin Williams
“Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?”
“Being in the same room with people and creating something together is a good thing.” – Robin Williams
“Nobody takes a picture of something they want to forget.” – Robin Williams
“Ah, yes, divorce … from the Latin word meaning to rip out a man’s genitals through his wallet.” – Robin Williams
“Terrible wars have been fought where millions have died for one idea–freedom. And it seems that something that means so much to so many people would be worth having.” – Robin Williams
“There’s no shame in failing. The only shame is not giving things your best shot.” – Robin Williams
“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!'”
Source: Wikipedia IMDb Britannica VanityFair Instagram RottenTomatoes Biography HBO Youtube TheGuardian